Beyoncé’s parents: Split ‘amicable’ despite paternity suit

After 30 years of marriage, the parents of singers Beyoncé and Solange Knowles are divorcing.

Last month, Tina Knowles filed for divorce from Mathew Knowles in Harris County district court.

According to the filing, the longtime Houston residents have been living apart since January.

Tina Knowles’ petition came a month after a woman in Los Angeles filed a paternity suit against her husband.

“The decision to end our marriage is an amicable one. We remain friends, parents, and business partners,” the couple said in a statement provided to The Associated Press on Friday.

“If anyone is expecting an ugly messy fight, they will be sadly disappointed. We ask for your respect of our privacy as we handle this matter.”

Efforts by the Chronicle to contact representatives of the family for comment Friday were unsuccessful.

According to the court document, the couple married in January 1979.

Solange, a frequent poster on Twitter and Facebook, has not commented on the matter.

Mathew Knowles’ management has helped Beyoncé become one of the top-selling acts in music as well as helping guide her acting career, while Tina Knowles is widely credited with making her a global fashion trendsetter.

While infidelity is not alleged, the filing states that Tina Knowles is seeking a divorce because of “discord or conflict of personalities.”

Meanwhile, Beyoncé, who recently announced new international dates for her “I am …” tour and reportedly is about to sign a lucrative deal for an extended series of shows in Las Vegas, on Friday announced the launch of a new perfume bearing her name.